Acetylene generator



Oct. 22, 1946. w. D. BURCH ACETYLENE GENERATOR Filed June 26, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y anA ffi 'n 64 5 V INVENTOR. Wflfl D BDI Dh Bfm a/Sfw ATTORNEYS.

ocr, 22, 1946. w. D. BURCH `2,409,833

ACETYLEN E GENERATOR Filed Jne 26, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

W il'Lie D EJLLI' |311 BY I 2 Q .Og/ml M ATroRNEYs.

Oct. 22, 1946. v w. D. BURcH 4 2,409,833

l AC'ETYLENE GENERATOR Filed June 26. 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Y FIG. e.

INVENTol-.

'l www D; Emp Eh Patented Oct. 22,1946

ACETYLENE GENERATOR Willie D. Burch, OklahomaI City,` Okla., assignor of one-half to Forrest Parrott, Oklahoma City,

Okla.

Application June 26, 1944, serial No. 542,140

(c1. `isa-53.3)

12 Claims.

This invention relates to acetylene generators and more particularly to a generator adapted to provide a measured feed of the carbide to the water.

An'important object -is to provide an acetylene generator having but one exterior control and this is operated by a simple push-pull rod. Another important object of the invention is to provide a particularly safe generator including automatic means to shut 01T the carbide'feed, if the operator fails to do so.

Still another important object is to provide a generator of this kind provided with locking means which automatically locks all closures against removal while gas is under pressure in the generator, but which means automatically unlocks the closures upon absence of gas pressure.

4Amajor object is to provide a diaphragm-operated means for automatically opening the popoff valve should the latter become stuck. b Another major object is to provide a portable acetylene generator which has quick-acting means to seal off the carbide compartment from the water upon tipping over of the generator.

Still another important object is to provide an acetylene generatorwhich automatically locks against feeding carbide, when the water therein freezes. I

lOther objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which drawings:

Fig; 1 is a vertical section of the novel generator.

"`Fig`. 2 is a. top plan View of the main carbide hopper thereof, removed, but normally disposed at the upper end of the generator` Figs. 3 to Ginclusive are horizontal sections of the generator, taken substantially upon their respective lines of Fig. l. n Y

Figsjfl and 8 are enlarged fragmentary vertical sections of the generator, taken substantially upon their respective lines of Fig; 1.

` Figs. 9, 10 and l1 are vertical sections through three diaphragms employed in the novel generator.

n Fig. 12 is a fragmentary vertical section of the generator upon substantially the line I2-I2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 13 is a section, normal to the section of Fig. 12 but showing an oscillating actuator for a Valve, .in an abnormal position. .I

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary vertical section, showing a carbide feed valve in a closed position.

I n the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several Views, the letter A may generally designate the novel generator, including a main housing I5 enclosing a carbide hopper I6, a measuring receptacle or starter cup Il, a water reservoir I8, a popoif valve I9 and a conventional flashback` 20. y

The main housing I5 is so arranged that the carbide hopper I6 is uppermost, the starter cup I I immediately below the hopper I6 and communicating therewith, and the water reservoir I8 below the starter cup II, with a downwardly and inwardly sloping partition 2l, above the reservoir I8, providing a splash guard 22 having a central opening defining a valve seat 23. Preferably, this seatyis arranged to seat a valve, to be described, I which is normally Ispaced from and below the seat. `The seatv 23 includes a substantially horizontal ringfshaped main, seat portion 24 and a depending collar-like auxiliary seat portion 25 spaced from the interior periphery of the portion 24 and secured to the under side of the partition 2|. 'I'he other openings intothe housing walls Will be described in connection with the several portions of the housing.` n

The'carbide hopper I6 is provided with a drumlike, vertical wall 2B, an upper horizontal wall 2l, and a downwardly and inwardly sloping Vbottom Wall or sump 28. Preferably, this Wall 28 is detachable, since it may be provided with an outwardly-extending perforated flange 29 at its upper end, while the wall 23 may be provided with anoutwarclly-extending perforated flange 30 at its lower end, both ilanges being carried by an Voutwardly-extending perforated flange 3l carried by the wall of the housing I5. Suitable securing members 32, as bolts and nuts may be provided to detachably secure the several flanges together and, of course, gaskets may be employed, if desired.

@This bottom wall or sump 28 is provided with a centrally `disposed valve seal 33 which may have a bevelled face, sloping outwardly and downwardly.

The upper'wall 2'I of the carbide hopper IBis provided with a centrally disposed ller opening 34 having an upwardly-extending exteriorly screw threaded collar 35. The closure therefor will be subsequently described I I I `:The verticalwall 26 of the hopper I6 may sup- Z1 port4 conventional accessories, as a pressure gauge 36.

The measuring receptacle I1 is, of course, much smaller than the hopper le and includes, preferably, a cylindrical vertical wall 4B secured at its upper end to the bottom wall or sump 28 of the hopper I6, and a bottom wall or sump 4| having a centrally-,disposed valve seat v 4 2,"vvhich ymay have an outwardly l'-anddownwardly `bevelled =face, and the axes of the seats 33 and 42 are, preferably, concentric.

Below the partition 2|, the reservoir ,L8 occupies the lowermost portion of the main housing l5 and the bottom of this kreservoir HlOl/idSS al.,

sump i3 from the lowermost portion ;of which leads a suitable conduit 44 opening into the reservoir at one end and extending exteriorly of.

the housing i5 at its other end, Where it may terminate in a valve 45. The verticalwall -46 of the reservoir IB may beinturned as at 41 at its lower end to fprovide a rm, Afiat base for .the generator and hraise the conduit 44 slightly above the bottom Vof the generator. This reservoir is provided, -of cou-rse, with the conventional .downwardly hanging, -pivoted, agitator .paddle .4.8 'with exterior manipulating handlell.therefor.V

'The lvertical wall 146 .extends upwardly .to .carry the lpartition 2| and may then fslo-pe inwardly as vat V5|) to meet the vertical wall 12,5.of the hopper ,i6 and end in the flange 3| ,mention-ed.

Y. A water level for 1the reservoir is ,indicated by a dot and dash line 5|. v

ANow las `for the `novel Vsafety .operating means for the generator, ,there is provided but one yexterior member -necessary for .manual regulation of the generator and this one member automatically aids in the regulation ofother conditions arising 4 during use of the generator. This member is, preferably, a single rod 5.5, extending exteriorly and interiorly .of the .housing 1I5 through a suitable .opening'in the wall 4,6.. 'I he axis 0f this opening intersects Athe vertical vaxis ofthe housing lli, and the axes of 'the valve seats 33 `and 42,. The transverse cross section of the rod 55 is shown as square in Fig. "7 but it .may have other shapes, However, it isnot rotatable, but is freciprocable. At 4its outer exterior end, the rod vmay have a suitable-removable handle 5,6, spaced from a small housing `51 secured to the outer side of the wall 46 and which housing carries, at its upper Yend a freely verticallyslidable .latching pin 58 having an rend within'the housing 51 to engage the walls of .a socket or keeper 59 in the upper `face of `the rod .55, The upper `or outer end of the pin.,58 may Ahave a finger grip 60. It is apparent that, as the rod reciprocates, the pin 5,8 will drop by gravity into .the keeper 59 andthe rod will then remain stationary, but may be released from vthe keeper by manually .drawing up on the pin.

After passing through `the .wall of the housing I5, the rod is ,operatively connected, in any approved -way to the center of a `exible sheet .diaphragm .6| carriedby an open-.ended vdiaphragm housing 62, with the diaphragm 6| over this .open end, suitably secured thereto and normally urged outwardly by an expansion coil spring Sla. The diaphragm housing B2 `is supported by the main housing wall so that the diaphragm 6| faces inwardly, into the chamber 63, between the partition-Zl and wall 28, and the structure 6|) to 62 Yinclusive constitutes means to reciprocate the rod 55 upon changes in gas pressure within the housing I5. From rthis .diaphragm El the rod extends into the chamber 63and is provided'with 4 six suitable stops such as fixed lugs lid- 69, spaced along the rod. These lugs may be of any suitable shape and their function is to engage certain parts of the mechanism to be next described.

The lug 64 nearest the diaphragm 6| is adapted to engage the legs 1|] of a lever 1I straddling the rod 55, as in Fig. 8, With the legs 1.63 occupying vpart of the space :between'the diaphragm `6| and' lug 64. Since substantially similarly shaped levers engage the lugs 66 and 61,

. fsimilar reference characters are employed for all A.three tlevers which are, inverted L-shaped with the normally vertical portion 12 of the lever 1| .carrying vthe 'legs 10, the horizontal portion 13 providingan abutment.

The horizontal portion of the lever 1|, the llegs of whichare engaged by the lug 61|, abuts a vertical rod 14 which extends upwardly tocontact thev valve (not shown) of the popofl valve I9. Each lever 1| is pivoted at the juncture of the portions 1'2 `and 13 by a pivot pin -15 journalled to the main .housing walls. When-the'rod 55 moves toward `the left, urged yby the diaphragm 6|, forced inwardly by undesirable gas pressure of seventeenY pounds, the lug-64 will move xthe portion-12 to the left and `the portion 13 in an arc upwardly, raising the rod 'I4 and forcing the rvalve of the popoff valve from `-its seat (in the` event this valve sticks) Movement of the lrod 55 tothe right will cause the `lever 1| to assume its normal position, with the portion 1.2 vertical, since the llevers are balanced to vassume such a vnormal position.

The lug 65 Vis adapted to `contact 'a vertically outer end of thepin 15a is below the horizontal plane ofY the lug 65.

As foro-the lugs [65 and these Iare associa-ted flug 6G is vto the rleft of the taller lever 1| andupon movement of the rod-to the right, willlcause 'the `valve stem attached toY a conical valve11 at vits upper end, to move upwardly in the spidery 18 secured to the wall of the receptacle l1, and almost fully seat on the valve seat 42. Of course, movement of the lug E6 in `the other direction (toward the left) will operate to unseat the'valve 11. However, movement of therod 55 suiciently to the left will also nearly seat this valve 11` (as when excessible gas pressure Voperates the ,diaphragm 6I). In such an eventthe last lever 1I (that is, the extreme right lever) will pivot, urged by the Vlug 61, which is to the right of this last lever 1|, its normally horizontal arm 13 will contact the horizontal arm 13 of the adjacent'lever and,` thevertieal portion of this adjacent lever, being free to move to the right, both levers will move to elevate their horizontal Vportions and nearly seat the valve 11. (This valve 1'1 seats sufliciently to prevent carbide from moving past 4the seat but not enough to prevent gas lfrom flowing past the seat.) Bothleversiwilll drop, upon movement of the rod to Athe righ-t; Thus. the lug 61, shorter lever 1|, its pivot pin 15, lug 64, its associated lever 1| and its pivot pin 15 constitute means jtofoperate the popoff valve and valve 11 upon operation of the diaphragm BI, but manual sliding movement of the rod to the right in Figure 1 will not affect these two levers 1|.

The lug 68 is simply one to limit outward movement of the rod 55 and may engage an innermost support 80 for the rod-55, extending from an suitable housing structure wall.

The lug 69 is associated with means toclose oir the water reservoir I8 from the rest of the housing I5 and lock the mechanism upon tipping over or abnormal tilting of the housing I5. It has the additional function of locking the mechanism upon a drop in the water level and closing oi the water reservoir at the same time.

The rst of these safety features includes a normally vertical arm 8| having a suitable weight 82 at its lower end, a ball and socket pivot 83 intermediate its ends and an enlargement 84V at its upper end, with an upper face 85 and, preferably a conical, upwardly opening recess or concavity 8S in this face 85.

` Normally contained in this recess 85 is a conical enlargement 81 depending from the intermediate portion of a lever or arm 88, pivoted at one end as at 89 and with its free end contacting the lower end of a vertical valve stem 90, carrying a .valve 9|, which preferably comprises `a disc portion 92 and, above this disc portion an arcuate valve portion 92, having a curved lower face. This valve 9| seats upon the seat 23 when the arm S8 pivots upwardly and urges the valve stem 9B upwardly, since this arm 88 will swing upwardly or to a horizontal position upon different positions of the enlargement 81 with respect to the concavity 86. No matter in which direction the vertical arm 8| swings, except to a vertical position, the enlargement will change its position so as to be more or less outside the concavity and thus move the arm 08.

The valve stem 90 may extend upwardly through the valve 9| as a pin 95 to contact the lug when Ythe valve 9| `is closedand prevent movement of the rod 55 but, when the valve 9| is unseated, the lug 30 is not interfered with by this pin 95.

There is provided a suitable oat 95, as of cork, which floats upon the water level 5| and carries an upwardly-extending arm or rod B1 loosely slidable in bearings 08, having a normally horizontally-disposed float lever 09 pivoted as at |00 toits upper end. Intermediate its ends, this lever 99 is` pivoted, as at |0| to a support |02 which may be carried by a suitable portion of the housing I5. The free end of this float lever 99 engages the under side of the arm 88, intermediate the end of the latter. By this arrangement, when the float S6 drops with drop in the water level 5I, the arm 91 will move downward, the lever 99 will swing upwardly, swing the arm 88 upwardly seat the valve 9| and lock the operating mechanism as stated. No more carbide can then enter the 4reservoir I8 until the Water level is corrected and the float 06 rises.

It is preferred to provide a diaphragmoperated valve |05 for the seat 33 at the lowermost portion of the lower wall 28 of the hopper i6. This valve |05 is normally disposed below the seat 33 and has an upwardly-extending `stem |06 pivoted, as at |01, (shown particularly in Fig. 10) at its upper end in the hopper compartment, to the end of `a short horizontal arm |08, which is, in turn, pivoted as at |09Mat its other which carries a exible sheet diaphragm I|| over its open end and to which is secured a` depending arm I I 2 having an eye at its free end, embracing the intermediate portion of the short arm |08.

The housing I |0/carries a suitable means urging the diaphragm III outwardly, as a weight II3. `Thus upon the building up of gas pressure within ,the housing I5, the diaphragm will be forced inwardly andthe operative connection between it and the valve |05 will almost seat this valve, that is, will seat it enough so that no carbide can enter the measuring receptacle V|1 to drop therethrough and into the water. When the gas pressure has dropped to normal, the diaphragm, urged by the weight ||3, will move outwardly and cause the valve |05 to unseat. The diaphragm housing I I 0 may be supported by a bracket ||4 carriediby a suitable portion of the t main housing structure. 'l

In Fig. 9 is illustrated one of the two closure latching means. This one is particularly adapted for aclosure ||5 for the carbide receiving opening 3,4 at the top of the housing I5. This closure I I5 is a cap having a depending skirt provided with interior screw threads and, extending through the center of the cap, is a thumb screw I I6 with its inner end bearing against the upper face of a suitable sealing disc ||1 resting upon the collar 35. Extending outwardly from the outer periphery of the skirt are spaced apart wings or lugs II8. Preferablythere `are 4 such lugs I i8, spaced apart.

The means of Fig. 9 includes a diaphragm structure providing an open ended housing `I2!) or wings I IS` but whenl the pressure buildgup,

D the diaphragm |2I will be forced inwardly against the pressure of the coil expansion spring |23 and the -pin |22 will rise and its upper end extendabove these horizontal planes, whereby the pin, end will function as a stopto prevent .more than a quarter turn of the closure |I5. When the gas becomes exhausted as by exhaustion .of the carbide supply, the pin will move downwardly, as the spring |23 urges the diaphragm I2| downwardly and the closure II5 may be unscrewed. v t

The diaphragm shown in Fig. 11 is one employed with the closure |25 to the water intake. This closure |25 is a screw-cap with wings or lugs |25 disposed as arethe wingsor lugs I|8, and adapted to close the L-shaped intake pipe 21.,

This diaphragm structure includesan openended housing |30, a nexible sheet diaphragm I3| therefor with the diaphragm facing inwardly of the housing I5, and a pin |32 secured to theinner face of the diaphragm |3I. This pin extends through the closed end wall |32 of the housing |30 Vand through the wall 45 of the housing I5 in position to contact thelugs .or wings |=2i6 of the closure |25 but, as may be seen in Fig. 1, the free end of the pin |3| is outwardly of the vertical planes of the lugs |25 when the diaphragm is straight, but .moves within these planes.A When gas `pressure forces end to theexterior of a diapr'aghmhousingl I0 75 the diaphragm inwardly aiconventional expansionv coil spring |33 bears against thediaphragm structure and wall |32.

A suitable tube |35 opens at one end in the housing l and extends to the flashback '20,Y as is Well known in the art.

.It `will be seen, from the foregoing, that a particularly safe generatorv is provided with a single manual feed control and automatic regulation of the control governed by gas pressure within the generator, with drop in water level and temperat-ure as well as abnormal position of the generator, affecting this control. The generator is also rendered safe by the provision of the diaphragm-operated devices for preventing removal ofthe closures while the generator is under gas pressure.

'With the generator empty, the valve 1'! at the lower end of the starter cup ll seated and the rod 55 in a position with the pin 58 in the recess 59, the closures may be removed, the hopper I6 charged with carbide and the reservoir I8 filled with water so that the float SB rises and unseats the valve 9|. As carbide 'enters the hopper |6 some will pass to the starter cup Il andV remain there since the valve 1l is seated. Now, upon manually raising the pin 58 from the recess 59 and pulling out on the rod 55, the valve l1 will unseat, the carbide in the starter cup l`| will drop to the water, gas will begin to form and the diaphragme |21 and |3| will function to latch the closures against removal. While the gas remains at a desired pressure there will be no action of -the diaphragm lll but, if this pressure begins to rise this diaphragm will almost seat the valve H35 preventing further feeding of carbide until lthe pressure drops to normal. Since .the valve |05 seats only enough to prevent feeding lof carbide, but not enough to prevent gas from entering the hopper I6, upon the subsequent drop in gas pressure, the diaphragm II|V will again function to unseat Valve |05. Of course, it is apparent that various changes in pressure will alfect the diaphragm vvIll accordingly and .the extentvalve |95 seats and unseats will also vary accordingly.

If the carbide hopper becomes empty, diaphragm 6| will function to slide rod 55 to the right and seat valve 11 as 'valve |05 unseats. At

Vthe same time the drop in pressure will cause the closurevl'atching mechanism to function to unlatch the closure so that the carbide and water Vsupplies 'may be replenished, some of the carbide running down into the starter cup again.

Various changes may be marde tol the form of the invention herein shown and described withoutv departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the claims.

Iclaim': Y 1. In an acetylene generator, a housing provided with a carbide hopper and a water reservoir, a measuring receptacle below said hopper, communicating therewith and provided with a valve seat, at itslower end; a valve for said seat, having a depending stem; a control rod slidably carried substantiallyhorizontally by said housing, with one end exteriorly'thereof, the other end interiorly thereof, and the vertical axis of said stem Vintersecting said rod; an inverted, substantially L-sh'aped lever pivotally carried `by said housing, with the free end of the normally horizontal arm of said lever below and closely adjacent the lower end `of said stem, and the 4normally vertical arm of said lever Vstraddling said rod; and an abutment on said rod contacting saidnormally vertical arm. Y

'2. In an acetylenegenerator, a housing'provided with a carbide vhopper-and a water reservoir, a measuring receptacle below said hopper, communicating therewith and provided with a valve seat at its lower end; a valvefor said seat, having a depending stem; a control rod slidably carried substantially horizontally by said housing, with one end exteriorly thereof, the other end interiorly thereof, and the vertical axis of said stem intersecting said rod; means Ywithin said housing, operatively connected with said rod to reciprocate said rod upon' Vchanges Ain gas pressure vwith said housing; an inverted, sub# stantially L-shaped lever pivotally carried by said housing, with the -free end of the normally horizontal arm of said lever 4below and closely adjacent the lower end of said stem, and the normally vertical arm of said lever straddling said rod; a second inverted, substantially L-V shaped lever pivotally carried by said housing with the free end of the normally horizontal arm of said second lever directly below and closely adjacent said rst-named free end, and the normally vertical arm of said second lever straddling said rod, said levers being disposed so that their said free ends extend forward toward eachother; and a pair of nxed abutments on said rod, one contacting one face of one normally vertical arm and the other contacting the opposite face of the other normally vertical arm.

3. In an acetylene generator, a housing provided with a carbide hopper and a water reservoir, a measuring receptacle below said hopper, communicating therewith and providedwith a `'valve seat at its lower end; a valve for said seat, having a depending stem; a control rod slidably carried substantially horizontally by said housing, with one end eXteriorly thereof, the other end interiorly thereof, and the vertical axis of said stem Vintersecting said rod; means within said housing, operatively connected with said rod toV reciprocate said rod upon changes in gas pressure with said housing; an inverted, substantially Leshaped lever pivotally carried by said housing, with the free end of the normally horizontal arm of said lever below and closely adjacent the lower end of saidstem, and the normally vertical arm of said lever straddling said rod; a second inverted, substantially L-shaped lever pivotally carried by said housing with the free end of the normallyhorizontal arm of said second lever directly below and closely adjacent said lrst-named free end, and the normally vertical arm of said second lever straddling said rod, said levers being disposed so that their said free ends extend toward each other; and means for latching said rod in a xed position with the upper arm of said first-named lever inclined from the horizontal.

4. In an acetylene generator, a housing provided with a carbide hopper anda water reservoir, a measuring receptacle below said hopper and above said reservoir, communicating with both, andl'provided with a valve seat at its lower end; a valve for said seat; a control rod slid`ably carried by said housing and extending interiorly and exteriorly thereof; means operatively connected with said rod to reciprocate said rod upon changes in gas pressure within said housing; a pop-off valve; means carried by said rod and housing to operate said rst named valve upon manual sliding movement of said rod in one direction; and means carried by said rod and housing tooperate said valves upon operation of said iirst meansto` slide said rod in one direction andto Lig' remain inoperativeduring operation' of sai'dsecond'means. Y l` l 5. In an acetylenegenerator, `a lhousing :provided with a carbide hopper and a water reservoir, la measuring 'receptacle below said hopper and above. ksaid reservoir,lcommunicating with both, and provided? with a valve seat atits lower end; a valve for said seat; a controlrodfslidably carried byi said housing and extending. interiorly and` `exteriorly thereof ;.means operatively con-.- nectediwith said rod to reciprocate saidl rod upon changes" in gas pressure withinsaid housing; a

and a partition between said hopper and reservoir,` said partition having'a valve seat; a measuring receptable below saidhopper and above said reservoirland partition, communicating with said hopper andprovided with a valveseat at its lower end; a valve for said second seat; a control rod slidably carried by said housing and extending interiorly and exteriorly thereof; means carried by said rod and housing to operate said valve upon reciprocation of said rod; a valve for said rst seat; safety means carried by said housing to close said last named valve upon tipping of said housing; and means associated with said safety means to restrain said rod against movement upon operation of said safety means to close said last named valve. 4

'7. In a Vportable acetylene generator a housing provided with a carbide hopper, a water reservoir and a partition between said hopper and reservoir, said partition having a valve seat; a measuring receptacle below said hopper and above said reservoir and partition, communicating with said hopper and provided with a valve seat at its lower end; a valve for said second seat; a control rod slidably carried by said housing and extending interiorly and exteriorly thereof; means carried by said rod and housing to operate said valve upon reciprocation of said rod; a valve for said first seat; safety means carried by said housing' to close said last named valve upon tipping of said housing; and means, carried by said rod and associated with said safety means carried by said rod to restrain said safety means to close said last named valve.

8. In a portable acetylene generator a housing provided with a carbide hopper, a water reservoir and a partition between said hopper and reservoir, said partition having a valve seat; a measuring receptacle below said hopper and above said reservoir and partition, communicating with said hopper and provided with a valve seat at Vits lower end; a valve for said second seat; a control rod slidably carried by said housing and extending interiorly and exteriorly thereof; means carried by said rod and housing to operate said valve upon reciprocation of said rod; a valve for said first seat; safety means carried by said housing to close said last named valve upon tipping of said housing; and means, carried by said rod and associated with said safety means carried by said rod to restrain said safety means to close said last `named valve and to remain inoperative during normal operation of said generator.

10 I9; Ina portable` acetylene generator a housing provided.` with `a `carbide hopper, a water freservoir and a, partition between said hopper and reservoinsaid partition having a valve seat; a measuring` receptacle below said hopper and above said reservoir and partition, communicating with said hopper and `provided with a valve seat at itsflower end; a valve for said second seat; a control rod slidably carried by said housing and extending, interiorly and exteriorly thereof; means carried byI said rod and housing to operate said valve; upon reciprocation of said rod; a valve for said first seat; safety means carried by said housing toclose said last named-valve upon tipping of -saidihousingv and upon depletion of Water in said. reservoir; andmeans associatedwith said safety means toxrestrain said rod against movement upon operation'of4 said safety means to close sai'dlast named valve. A i

10.,In a portable acetylene generator a housing :provided A with a carbide hopper, a water reservoir and apartition between said hopper and reservoir, said partition 4having a valve seat; a`

measuring receptacle below said hopper and above said reservoir and partition, communicating `with'said hopper and provided with a valve seatatits'lowerfend; a valve for said second seat; a control rod slidably carried by said housing and extending interiorly and exteriorly thereof; means carried by said rod and housing to operate said valve upon reciprocation of said rod; a valve for said first seat; safety means carried by said housing to close said last named valve upon tipping of said housing; and means associated with said safety means to restrain said rod against movement upon operation of said safety means to close said last named valve; said safety means including a normally vertical weighted rod, a ball-and-socket pivot for said rod; an enlargement upon the upper end of said weighted rod, providing a flat, normally horizontally disposed face, a normally horizontal arm, a pivot for said last named arm', with the free end portion of said last named arm resting upon said face, a vertically-disposed stem for said last named valve, with the lower end of said stem contacting the free end of said last namedarm, a second stem extending from said last named valve toward said first named rod and a stop upon said rst named rod and disposed so that the side of said stop will contact said last named stem upon closing said last named valve.

11. In a portable acetylene generator a housing provided with a carbide hopper, a water reservoir and a partition between-said hopper and reservoir, said partition having a valve seat; a measuring receptable below said hopper and above said reservoir and partition, communicating with said hopper and provided with a valve seat at its lower end; a valve for said second seat; a control rod slidably carried by said housing and extending interiorly and exteriorly thereof; means carried by said rod and housing to operate said valve upon reciprocation of said rod; a valve for said first seat; safety means carried by said i extending from said last named valve toward said ars't named. rod and a' stopupon'sadA` r'od andY disposed so thatthe side of` saidy stop will Contact saidlast namedistem upon closingy said lastgnamed' valve. .Y

- 12.g-In a portable acetylenegenerator a housing provided wth'fa carbide. hopper, a Water reser- Voir, and arpartitionbetween said hopper and res--` ervoir, said partition having avalve seat; a measuringvreeeptacle below said hopper and ,above said reservoir and partition, communicating With saidhopper and yprovided with 'a valve seat at its lower. end;v avalveior saidfsecond seat; a. control; rodslidably Vcarriedby-said housing and.ex. tending interiorly andexteriorlythereof; means carried by said rod and ,housing to` operate said valvefupon reciprocationjrof ,said rody'a valvefor said rstrseat; safety means carried by said housing to close saidlast named' Valve upon tipping of saidv housing; andv means associated with saidr safety means to restrain said rod against movement upon operation; of said safety means toclose said last named valve; said safety means-include..

ing a normally vertical. Weighted rod, a ballffandsocket pivot, for said rod; an enlargement upon-v the upper end of said weighted rod providing a iiat, normally horizontally disposed face, *anormally horizontal arm, a pivot for said last named arm, with the free end portion. of said last named` armresting upon said face, a vertically-disposed stem for-said Alast named valve, Withthelower end of said stem contacting the free end ofjsaid .last named arm, a second: stemv extending-girona said last named valve-towardsaidfirst-named rod, a stop upon saidirod andv disposed Sothat the side of said stop-Will contact saidlastfnamed stem upon closing said lastnamed valve, a oat; a vertically reciprocating rod' extendingl upward- 1y from said float, means looselyretaining said last named rod in substantially upright position for reciprocation thereon alever, a pivot,- at one end thereof adjacentthe upper end of saidlastnamed rod, and a pivot forvsaid lastfnamed'rod, inwardly of the other end thereof,A said other end of said last` named .rods extendingjdirectly beneath saidnormally horizontal arm, whereby as said floatrdescends, said last named rod` Will.-

move and raise saidnormally horizontalarm. i v WILLIE D. BURCH.v 

